Part 10 (1/2)
The first thing is to hunt a some pieces of old ribs for a part that will match well This takes some ti--a part of it only will be required
The next requisite is a mould or piece of wood cut exactly to the curve of the inside of the rib; thisthought of; if it does not fit exactly, then the pressure to coainst it will be unequal in parts If cut fro, and the trouble be amply repaid by the result
An exterior inal rib is of fairly equal substance, the two ainst the other, and should fit nicely
The ragged openings and rotten part of the original rib having been carefully exaard to the size of the fresh piece to be inserted, a line is marked by soft chalk as to the position and extent to be covered by the fresh wood The aperture to admit the fresh piece of rib must be determined upon exactly, and be cut with the ut this, however, the question one into, and settled definitely, as to whether the fresh piece is to be pressed on from the outside or from the inside
The choice must be in favour of the more convenient, or that which will be most likely to lead to the best results As the sides of the aperture taken longitudinally ht, the convenience of cutting the edges of the opening from the outside will be decidedly better and e
As a ain until it is clearly a good fit all round When in a satisfactory state it will, when tried finally, be elevated a trifle above the surrounding wood
The angle at which the upper and lower portions fit has no need to be cut so acutely as at the ends
Everything being ready, including so over the surfaces that are to be closed together until absorption has ceased, and not before this are the parts to be brought ho into the ill continue, leaving no glue for holding the two surfaces
When quite ready, the interior block of wood or mould will be held in position by the hand
As usual, the piece of paper on the face of theon to it The piece of fresh rib is now placed in position, and the outer mould (faced with paper, of course), applied The screw cra
After ascertaining that all the glued parts are perfectly dry and therefore hard, the cramps, moulds and paperawill be that of levelling down and re any unevenness, on the outside especially If the fitting has been very accurately effected there will not relass-paper folded over a curved block of wood, or the actual mould that has been in use, will serve the purpose if not too large This can be rubbed backward and forward till the surface is level For the outside a slightly different treatlass-paper of the finest grain placed as before in front of a block of wood There is no necessity for it being a very close fit so long as it is even in surface
This should have so nature put on the surface, a little dabbed on with the tip of the finger will be enough
A fine surface, after a little passing backward and forward over it, adding a little oil now and then, will be obtained
The advantage of the use of oil is, firstly, the ease in use and the smoothness of the surface and absence of harshness, secondly, as it will have penetrated the wood to some extent it will prevent the varnish, that eventually will have to be applied, fro into the pores
Many otherwise excellent repairs have been spoilt frolass-paper leaves a dry, finely torn or raw surface which absorbs very readily the coloured varnish that will, in sinking, lookold varnish, which, it is most desirable, should be as closely as possible imitated
All these particulars, rules, and precautions, having been carefully attended to by Jaht by him in as advanced a state as possible to histo hi
About this tireat excite up to the chief without any cere the leather covering: ”Oh, my favourite violin is ruined, its back is broken, and I feel sure you can't do it up; it is a Venetian Montagnana that I have had so many years, and that you--yes, even you--ad I bring you, but you said this was the only good thing I had about ain, I a it to me,” says the chief, ”if it is ie? letbeen nervously opened by the owner, the violin, after a glance, is lifted out by the chief, the owner looking on in a state of great perturbation ”Please be very careful,” he says, as the practised hand of the master turns it about, looks at it here and there, over one way and then the other ”Why, its back is not broken; where is the fracture?”--”Don't you see, all the way down, it is quite loose and open?”
Another turn round or so, and the chief exclaims, ”Oh, you mean the joint of the back is open--that is not broken; I did not see it at first as the light was going in the saain for you”--”Here, Ja?” James casts his eye over it for a second or two, and says, ”No sir, I've done up that kind o' thing over and over again”
Then, turning to the owner, ”Two against one, you see”
The areat earnestness for a moment or two, then observes: ”You will have, I suppose, to take it all to pieces to do that kind of repair, eh?”
”Oh no,” replied the chief, ”we shall close that up without undoing any part of it except taking the strings and sound-post away” At this moment he has inserted the post-setter and pushed the post a little, which proceeding causes the back to open wider, thewidely also, accouish
”There now,” says the repairer, ”just that little extra pressure fro extends; it is not all the way along, and there does not appear to be anything to prevent it coain”
The chief now dexterously, with the point of the ”setter,” takes the sound-post out, the owner looking on with some amount of astonishment